The response to the death of Britain’s only female Prime Minister has sparked outrage.
Revellers took to the streets of Brixton on Monday night to celebrate the death of Margaret Thatcher.
Hundreds flocked to the impromptu party in Windrush Square where people drank, played loud music and chanted ‘Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, dead, dead, dead’.
Some partygoers climbed onto the Ritzy Cinema and rearranged letters on its sign to spell out the words: Margaret Thatchers (sic) dead LOL.
Others held banners with hateful remarks such as ‘The bitch is dead’ and burnt photographs of her in the streets.
When police arrived to move the attendees on, two women were arrested on suspicion of burglary after they were found inside a Barnardo’s charity shop which had its front window smashed.
The ‘party’ was a result of a Facebook event organised by Brixton Socialist Workers’ Party just hours after the 87-year-old died at the Ritz Hotel on Monday morning.
An organiser wrote on the site: “A party to celebrate the death of Thatcher and our continuing commitment to fight the legacy she left and that continues to devastate the lives of ordinary people everywhere.”
The celebrations were condemned by both political leaders and the general public across South West London.
Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, told Brixton Blog: “Holding a party to celebrate the death of any person is totally wrong and in extreme bad taste – to do so in respect of Baroness Thatcher on the day of her death is utterly disgraceful.”
He also added that it was not a true representation of Brixton people.
Daniel Silver, 30, of Morden, said: “I don’t think that’s nice, it’s disrespectful and a bit sad really.”
Neil Broadway, 38, of South Wimbledon, said it was disrespectful to ‘celebrate’ someone’s death.
“It’s fundamentally and ethically wrong, people should respect and value life, no-one is perfect,” he said.
“It’s not right to celebrate because someone has died,” said Elena Munio, 26, of Wimbledon.
“I was disgusted, absolutely outraged. No-one should celebrate death. She’s not a dictator, she did a lot of bad things but she did some good things too.”
Others could empathise with the protesters despite not agreeing with their actions.
Nikhill Patel, 24, of Wimbledon, said: “There are two sides. I felt sad because someone has died but I didn’t favour her really.
“People who have an intense dislike for her should be able to celebrate.”
Clare Griggs, 36, of Brixton, said: “I hated her. She stood for greed and the rise of capitalism but I’m ambivalent about her death.
“It’s crazy but I find it quite funny especially because of the riots in Brixton. She caused a lot of pain and agro but I don’t think it was necessary to celebrate in that way. She was a funny character.”
The funeral of Britain’s first female Prime Minister will take place on Wednesday April 17 at St Paul’s Cathedral. A security operation estimated to cost £8-10million is being planned, as many fear that the occasion could be disrupted by protesters.
Photo courtesy of GRIMEREPORTTV via YouTube, with thanks.
Follow us @SW_Londoner
